Just Call Me Cinderella

Chapter Nine

Sakura vacuumed guest room five? Six? She couldn't remember. Vacuuming was weirdly relaxing for her so she was kind of in her own little world. Tonight she had been pretty successful in avoiding the Uchihas.

She arrived exactly on time and immediately got to work. She scrubbed and cleaned. At one point Mei had come up the stairs to see if she would be willing to serve Itachi his dinner in the dining room but Sakura declined saying that she was behind in her work load and that Kimiko could probably handle it. Mei looked at her funny and then left.

Shortly after that the cook had asked her if she could take a tray to Sasuke's room for him and his friends and she had suggested that Daisy would be going that way so it was much better for her to take it. The cook nodded but was a bit confused at her denying the offer.

Mikoto had asked her to take a suit to Fugaku downstairs in the study and she had agreed but kept all conversations short and professional. She realized that she really had been getting too comfortable with her employers and that was not good. She had crossed a line having her little sleepover and she did not want them to think that she was there for unsavory reasons.

Sakura finished vacuuming the room and made her way down to the ballroom. Apparently Sasuke and Itachi were to be performing a number of pieces with their cousins Shisui and Obito for some company dinner in the next couple of days. Sakura had been assigned the task of dusting and polishing the piano.

She shut the ballroom door behind her and gingerly made her way across the floor. She didn't really look around the ballroom the last time she was here. Memories of her filling the room with her voice immediately warmed her heart. She hadn't sung since then but it had been one of her best performances. Her father would have been proud.

The room was elegantly decorated and it shimmered in the sparse lighting she had turned on. The chandeliers were dark and it was honestly a little spooky. Sakura focused on her task at hand and made sure to work quietly.

A door slammed upstairs and Naruto's booming laughter could be heard from above her. She shook her head as she heard the group move from above her to the kitchen. Sakura gingerly closed the piano and headed to the door of the ballroom. She wanted to sneak out without the group seeing her.

She slithered out the door and down the hallway until she reached the living room that opened into the kitchen. If she was quick no one would even see her. She walked as fast as she could and tilted her head. Thank goodness it was dark so her hair wouldn't shine from the hallway lights.

Once outside the house she breathed a sigh of relief she had managed to leave unscathed and free of any Uchiha interactions. She definitely could do this.

The next few days passed the exact same. Sakura went to school and did her work and spoke only to her friends then went to work and made sure that she didn't have any interaction with the Uchihas.

It was now Saturday and Sakura was making various beds in the guest rooms with fresh sheets. The company dinner and piano performance was tonight and there were several people that were staying the night. The room she was assigned to help specifically tonight was that of Obito and his wife Rin.

He was one of the older cousins and from what she had heard he was sort of raised by Naruto's dad and Sasuke's great uncle. She had yet to meet them but from the few things she heard from the cook and Mei they were some of the best people in the family.

Kimiko had been assigned to Shisui's room and she could not have been more happy. Sakura saw her beaming every time they passed in the hall. She had taken a break earlier to fix her hair and apply makeup. Apparently Shisui was just as good looking as Itachi and Sasuke but was an even bigger flirt. Sakura rolled her eyes at the men in this family and was glad that at least Obito had managed to get married. And to a respectable girl at that.

Daisy on the other hand was practically livid. She was assigned Madara their great uncle. From that description alone he seemed ancient and Sakura could only guess how he acted. Not to mention he seemed to have Fugaku a bit nervous.

Sakura finished setting up the pillows on the bed when the door flew open. Sakura immediately jumped and tried to keep her composure. Obito wasn't supposed to arrive for another half hour. She was surprised to see both Sasuke and Itachi holding the door shut. Neither had realized that she was in the room.

"We just have to wait for a few minutes and then he'll be in his room until the dinner starts." Itachi leaned his ear against the door as he practically whispered. "We can hide out here. Obito will understand when he arrives."

Sakura folded her arms and looked at the ridiculous display in front of her. Were these really the Uchiha boys everyone was in love with? Who were they hiding from? Sakura cleared her throat.

Sasuke and Itachi jumped and turned around to face her. "Sakura!" Itachi whispered loudly as he made his way toward her and hugged her. She didn't hug back but he didn't seem to notice. "Fancy running into you here."

"Who are you hiding from?"

"Ssshhhh!" Sasuke had run the length of the room in mere seconds and clamped his hand over her mouth. Itachi had reached to do the same. They slowly took their hands off her mouth once they deemed it safe.

"Why are we whispering and who are you hiding from?" Sakura whispered this time and looked from Itachi to Sasuke and back again.

"Our great uncle Madara. He's crazy. there's no way to tell what mood he'll be in. Either he's pissed and yelling or he's feeling really good and trying to get us to sleep with every girl he sees." Sasuke grimaced and Sakura felt pressure on her arm. Apparently Sasuke had also grabbed her arm when he tried to quiet her. She tried her best to ignore the contact.

"I see. So you're hiding in here because?"

"He would expect us to be in our rooms or in Shisui's. Not Obito's."

"Do you hate Obito or something?" Itachi shook his head. "No but he's never really around and we always hang out with Shisui."

Sakura nodded. It was silent as they listened to laughter from downstairs and various voices fill the house. "Is it cool if I leave then?"

Sasuke and Itachi looked at each other and grimaced. "Best if you don't. He's in a good mood today."

Sakura's expression flattened. "Oh and you don't want the option to sleep with me?"

Itachi burst out into laughter and tried his best to keep it contained. He knew that Sakura was joking. Sasuke's face colored and his grip on her tightened again.

"We just don't want him to treat you like an object."

Sakura nodded again and sighed. "Fine. Can we at least sit down or something?"

Sasuke reluctantly let her go and she made her way to sit on the floor next to the desk. Itachi gave her a confused look but then shrugged and sat right next to her. Sasuke opted for a chair on the other side of the room. It was better that way. If he had sat next to her she was sure she would have stopped breathing. She had been so good this week to keep her distance but his small contact just now was making her heart beat erratically.

There was silence in the room for several minutes as they listened to Madara getting closer and closer to the upstairs. There were several other members of the company already here and the dinner was starting in just over and hour.

"Did you finish your work or do you actually need to go?"

"I just finished as you barged in. I'm assigned to Obito and Rin for the rest of the night."

It was weird working weekends for a big event. The maids got a bonus because they basically became servants for the night or nights. Sakura would attend to Obito and Rin the whole time they were staying here. She was going to sleep downstairs and was only allowed to leave the mansion for school and emergencies. Obito had decided to stay all through the Thanksgiving holiday so she would have to stay the whole week.

"Are you mad at me?"

Sakura was startled by the question. "What do you mean?"

"You've been ignoring me for the last few days and you seem to be keeping quite a distance. Is this because I made Sasuke use you for his demonstration?"

Sakura shook her head. It was still to early to tell Itachi about what the other maids had said. For all she knew it was just a one time thing that left her rattled for no real reason.

"I just felt that I maybe had crossed the bridge into unprofessional territory. I am here to do a job after all. I didn't want anyone to think otherwise."

Itachi turned to face her fully and grabbed her hand. "Sakura, I have told you before. I feel close to you and think of you as a friend so please don't ignore me like that in the future. I love getting to see you and learn more about you."

Sakura averted her eyes. "I know. I just don't want other people to get the wrong idea."

"What are you talking about? Did something happen?" Sakura immediately shook her head several times. "Good. You had me worried for a minute."

Sakura smiled and leaned back against the wall. The time seemed to move slowly as they sat in that room. Eventually Madara did make his way onto the second floor. He was with a rather large group. Itachi was still lightly holding Sakura's hand and she fought the urge to fall asleep. It was oddly comforting being next to him. Almost like sitting with a brother.

The door opened and another very attractive Uchiha stood in the doorway with a beautiful brunette behind him. Sakura shot to her feet and so did Itachi and Sasuke. Behind the brunette Sakura could see Kimiko sneer and Daisy whisper to her. She immediately ripped her hand from Itachi's and took a large step to the side.

"Obito! So nice to see you and Rin!" Itachi moved toward them and they all greeted each other with hugs and handshakes. Rin shut the door as she greeted Sasuke and Sakura took her assigned position in the corner of the room. She was supposed to introduce herself to them then make her way downstairs to help in any way she could unless they needed her for something specific.

"And who is this beauty?" Obito made his way to shake her hand and she couldn't help but reciprocate his wide smile. He had Naruto's smile and she immediately felt comforted by it.

"This is Sakura. She is the maid that is assigned to you while you are staying here. If you need anything at all just ask her and she can take care of it." Itachi smiled warmly at her and she bowed to Obito and Rin.

"You seem pretty close with them if all of you were in the room beforehand." Rin turned a disapproving glance at the boys.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, we both have girlfriends! She is just a friend that we have made over the last month or so. She is different from our other maids. She's not trying to hit on us all the time. Her best friends are Naruto and Ino Yamanaka." Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"You don't say! Well then you are definitely good people." Obito patted her on the back.

"Yamanaka huh? How are you with getting people ready for formal events?"

Sakura laughed. "Well I'm best friends with Ino and a Hyuuga. I know a thing or two."

"Perfect. I need help getting ready."

Rin grabbed Sakura's arm and practically dragged her into the bathroom. The dinner hadn't even started and Sakura was already exhausted.